Positive therapy (mindfullness) Flashcards
What is the main aim of mindfulness?
To enable a person to be present in the moment rather than focusing on the past or future.
What are the three assumptions of the positive approach?
- Focus on the good life
- Authenticity of goodness and excellence
- Acknowledgment of free will
What does mindfulness teach about thoughts?
To focus on the present and gain greater awareness of unhelpful or negative thoughts.
What is rumination in the context of mindfulness?
Dwelling on negative feelings and events.
What is the purpose of meditation in mindfulness?
To focus on the sensations from your body and acknowledge thoughts and emotions without dwelling on them.
What does informal practice of mindfulness involve?
Focusing on the present and being fully engaged in whatever you are doing.
Define ‘single-tasking’ in the context of mindfulness.
Doing one thing at a time and giving it your full attention.
What are some strengths of mindfulness?
- Effective when combined with Cognitive Therapy & Stress Reduction methods
- May help to prevent relapse of depression
- Used in schools to reduce anxiety and improve wellbeing
- Ethical with few side effects
- Easily accessible online
What are some weaknesses of mindfulness?
- Studies of effectiveness are small and often use participants with mild symptoms
- Doesn’t target the root cause of problems
- Often delivered by untrained practitioners
- Not intended as a therapy for the mentally ill
What is Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)?
A therapy that integrates mindfulness to reduce recurrence rates of depression.
What did Crane et al (2014) find regarding MBCT?
It reduces the recurrence rate of depression by 40–50% over 12 months for those with three or more previous episodes.
True or False: Mindfulness is primarily designed to treat mental illness.
False.
What are some potential side effects of deep meditation?
- Traumatic memories
- Cognitive and perceptual abnormalities
- Loss of sense of self
- Impairment of social relationships
- ‘Dark Night’ experiences
What is the ‘Dark Night’ in mindfulness?
A possible side effect of deep meditation characterized by negative experiences and emotions.
What ethical considerations are associated with mindfulness?
- Few side effects
- Positive attitude towards wellbeing
- Accessibility to all
Fill in the blank: Mindfulness was not originally developed for _______.
[mental illness]
What is a criticism of the studies on mindfulness?
Many studies are small and not rigorous, often involving participants who are not severely ill.
What does mindfulness help individuals do with their problems?
Cope with problems and not dwell on them.
What is the main focus of mindfulness practices?
To control thoughts and fully experience the present.
What advantage does mindfulness have over psychodynamic therapy?
Mindfulness is more accessible and can be practiced independently.
What is one way mindfulness has been shown to be effective in schools?
Reduces anxiety and distress as well as improves behavior.
What research task can help understand mindful breathing techniques?
Research square breathing/box breathing.
